II. The promise itself —
To understand this, we must consider the occasion whereon it was delivered. The Assyrian army, that had overrun almost the whole of Judea, were now encompassing Jerusalem. The wicked Jews are given up to terror and consternation ; but the righteous are encouraged with a promise of,
1. Protection —
[A fortress situated on an eminence which no weapons can reach, and founded on a rock which no human efforts can shake, may be considered as impregnable. Such a place should Jerusalem be to God's obedient people.
To us, who are surrounded with spiritual enemies, the pro- mise has a spiritual import. " The archers will shoot at us :" the world, the flesh, and the devil will combine against us to destroy us : but the true Christian " shall dwell on high," out of their reach ; and " his place of defence shall be the muni- tions of rocks" which cannot be undermined. If his enemies wound his body, they shall "not be able to kill his soul ;" for that is " hid with Christ in God :" and he may say to his enemies, as Hezekiah said to the besieging and blaspheming General, " The virgin the daughter of Zion hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at theee."]
2. Provision —
[There are but two ways in which a fortress, which will not capitulate, can be taken ; namely, by assault or famine. Against both of these God promised to guard his obedient people : for as their fortress should be impregnable, so it should be supplied with manna from heaven, and with water springing out of the rocks on which they dwelt. To us also the promise may be applied with strictest propriety. Our enemies may deal with us as with Paul and Silas of old, who were cruelly scourged, and thrust into an inner prison, and their feet were made fast in the stocks : but, though there was no access to them for earthly friends, were the visits of their God intercepted? Could their supplies of strength and consolation be cut off? Did not rather their consolations abound as their afflictions abounded? Thus it shall be with us: "bread shall be given us" for the support of our souls, and "the Holy Spirit shall be within us a well of water, springing up" for our continual refreshment. Difficulties and dangers we may experience ; but they shall issue only in the confusion of our enemies, and in brighter discoveries of God's power and grace.]
e 2 Kings xix. 21.